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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3508
Sponsored by Representative WRIGHT
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act tells SFD to work with others and do a study about how to better manage for-
ests in this state. (Flesch Readability Score: 76.7).
Directs the State Forestry Department, in collaboration with the Oregon Business Development
Department and the Housing and Community Services Department, to study methods for improving
active forest management in this state. Directs the State Forestry Department to submit findings
and recommendations to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to natural re-
sources, housing and agriculture not later than September 15, 2027.
Sunsets on January 2, 2028.
Appropriates moneys to the State Forestry Department for the study.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to study of active forest management; and prescribing an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) The State Forestry Department, in collaboration with the Oregon Busi-
ness Development Department and the Housing and Community Services Department, shall
study methods for improving active forest management in this state, including:
(a) Identifying barriers to using the most effective forest and wildfire management
techniques to reduce wildfires;
(b) Identifying obstacles to using the timber harvest of standing and burned forests as
an effective mitigation tool against future wildfires;
(c) Identifying the economic impacts of increasing present harvest numbers, including
the use of timber harvest of standing and burned forests, to generate increased revenue to
local schools, municipalities, counties and the state as a measure to lower taxes and increase
services to all Oregonians;
(d) The ability to expand the use of the Good Neighbor Authority Agreement by the State
Forestry Department on federal lands in Oregon to improve forest resiliency to wildfire; and
(e) Identifying the number of Oregon mills producing lumber and wood products by type
in 1980 and the number of Oregon mills producing lumber and wood products by type in 2025.
(2) No later than September 15, 2027, the department shall report to the interim com-
mittees of the Legislative Assembly related to natural resources, housing and agriculture,
in the manner provided in ORS 192.245, the findings of the study described in subsection (1)
of this section and recommendations for:
(a) Using the most effective forest and wildfire management techniques backed by re-
search and positive outcomes nationally or internationally to reduce wildfires;
(b) Using the timber harvest of standing and burned forests as an effective mitigation
tool against future wildfires;
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 4217 HB3508
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(c) Strategies to promote the use of the Good Neighbor Authority Agreement on federal
lands;
(d) Any other plans for improving active forest management developed by the depart-
ment;and
(e) Legislative changes necessary to implement the recommendations under this sub-
section.
(3) The department may contract with a private organization to conduct the study re-
quired under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 1 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2028.
SECTION 3.In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the State Forestry Department, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $500,000, which may be expended for carrying out the provisions
of section 1 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 4.This 2025 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the 2025
regular session of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die.
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